Director of Business Systems & AI

A growing commercial plumbing contractor is seeking a hands-on, business-minded Director of Business Systems & AI to lead the modernization of its business technology and systems. This role will lead a major ERP transformation, replacing the company’s Foundation Software construction accounting platform with Sage (Sage Intacct Construction or Sage 300 CRE, based on final selection). The Director will also own the company’s AI roadmap and work closely with an external AI consulting partner to identify and implement practical AI solutions across the business. The ideal candidate understands both technology and how a construction business operates . You’ll work closely with leadership, accounting, project management, field operations, and other teams to improve processes, strengthen data, automate manual work, and implement systems that support growth and profitability. Key Responsibilities ERP Implementation & Business Systems Lead the end-to-end migration from Foundation Software to Sage, from planning and implementation through go-live and stabilization. Own project scope, timeline, budget, risks, and executive reporting. Manage the Sage implementation partner and ensure deliverables, quality, and costs stay on track. Lead future-state process design for job costing, WIP, AP/AR, progress billing, retainage, change orders, certified payroll, union/prevailing wage, equipment, and inventory. Oversee data cleanup, mapping, migration, and reconciliation for customers, vendors, jobs, cost codes, chart of accounts, and historical data. Coordinate integrations between Sage and other key systems, including field service, estimating, project management, payroll/HR, banking, and document management platforms. Lead system testing, user acceptance testing, training, and cutover planning. Develop SOPs and support adoption across accounting, office, project management, and field teams. Oversee the ongoing administration, optimization, reporting, security roles, and internal controls within Sage. Develop and maintain a practical AI roadmap aligned with business priorities and measurable ROI. Serve as the primary internal contact for the company’s external AI consulting partner. Identify opportunities to use AI and automation to improve efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making. Partner with the consulting team to implement use cases such as: AP invoice capture and coding Estimating and takeoff support Bid and RFP review Service dispatch and scheduling Customer communications Contract and submittal review Executive reporting Ensure business systems produce clean, reliable data that can support AI applications. Help employees effectively adopt AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT Enterprise, or similar platforms. Establish practical guidelines around AI security, data privacy, accuracy, and appropriate human oversight. Ensure AI projects are well documented and that knowledge is transferred to the internal team. Business Systems & Process Improvement Own the business applications portfolio and long-term systems roadmap. Partner with department leaders to identify inefficient or manual processes and implement improvements using workflow automation, RPA, and AI. Develop reporting and dashboards, such as Power BI, to improve visibility into job profitability, WIP, backlog, cash flow, and technician productivity. Coordinate with IT and managed service providers on security, access controls, backups, and cybersecurity standards. Manage business systems budgets and vendor relationships. Help build and lead a small business systems team as the function grows. What Success Looks Like During the first 12–18 months, success will include: Successfully launching Sage on schedule and within budget. Completing the retirement of Foundation while maintaining access to accurate historical data. Improving the speed and accuracy of month-end close, job costing, and WIP reporting. Implementing 3–5 AI use cases with measurable productivity or financial impact. Building an effective partnership with the external AI consulting team. Achieving strong adoption of new systems and tools across office and field teams. Establishing a scalable business systems and technology roadmap for continued growth. Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field. 8+ years of experience in business systems, ERP, finance systems, or a related area, including 3+ years in a leadership role. Experience leading at least one full-lifecycle ERP implementation or migration through go-live. Strong understanding of construction or field-service accounting, including job costing, WIP, progress billing, retainage, and certified payroll. Experience managing outside consultants, implementation partners, and technology vendors. Practical experience implementing AI, automation, analytics, or other technology solutions that delivered measurable business results. Strong communication and project leadership skills, with the ability to work effectively with executives, accounting teams, project managers, field leaders, and technical partners. Preferred Experience with Sage Intacct Construction, Sage 300 CRE, Sage 100 Contractor, or Foundation Software. Experience in commercial plumbing, mechanical, HVAC, or another specialty contracting environment. Familiarity with construction and field-service platforms such as ServiceTitan, Procore, BuildOps, or similar systems. Experience with Power BI, SQL, integration platforms, and Microsoft 365/Copilot. PMP, Sage certification, Prosci, or other relevant professional certification. What We're Looking For Business-minded: Focuses on practical solutions, ROI, and user adoption rather than technology for its own sake. Hands-on leader: Comfortable getting into the details while keeping the bigger business objectives in focus. Strong project leader: Organized, accountable, and able to keep complex initiatives moving forward. Collaborative: Builds trust with both office and field teams and can communicate effectively with people at all levels. Forward-thinking: Understands the potential of AI and automation while maintaining sound judgment around security, data, and human oversight. #J-18808-Ljbffr